What happens when the church that taught you about God also becomes the source of your deepest wounds?

In this episode of Unholier Than Thou, I sit down with Nikki, a former worship leader whose journey began in a Pentecostal church at 17 years old. After entering an abusive relationship with the pastor’s son, she found herself in a church culture that protected leadership instead of victims, leaving her to wrestle with questions that would follow her for years.

After escaping that relationship, Nikki rebuilt her life, found a healthy marriage, and returned to church, eventually serving in worship ministry alongside her husband. But new experiences inside church leadership forced her to confront difficult questions about faith, authority, abuse, and authenticity...ultimately leading her to deconstruct Christianity.

In this conversation, we discuss:
• Domestic abuse and spiritual abuse
• Church culture and purity teachings
• Victim blaming in religious communities
• Worship ministry behind the scenes
• Deconstruction and leaving Christianity
• Healing after religious trauma
• Finding freedom after faith

Whether you’re deconstructing, questioning your beliefs, healing from church hurt, or simply interested in hearing another perspective, Nikki’s story is one of resilience, courage, and reclaiming your voice.

Connect with Nikki:

https://www.instagram.com/nikkileaks_exposingabuse?igsh=b2xiY2lrejdmMXd0

https://www.tiktok.com/@nikkileaks_exposingabuse?_r=1&_t=ZP-98CVrlFBII2

If this conversation resonates with you, please like, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who might need to hear it.

#Deconstruction #ReligiousTrauma #ChurchHurt #FormerChristian #Exvangelical #SpiritualAbuse #Healing #FaithJourney #UnholierThanThouPodcast

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